Chapter 3

However, he immediately frowned, pressing his chest as he crouched to the ground.

"You must have been living in a terrible state."

The reason he is trying to kill him is probably due to the strong magic implanted in his heart.

"Slave contract. ... Didn't your master teach you that if you run away, you will die?"

"..."

The boy, breathing heavily, pressed his forehead to the ground. He must be in pain and suffering. Twisting his body, he clenched his teeth tightly, but did not let out a single scream or complaint.

Moreover, he desperately tried to get up and raised his head to glare straight at Claudia. The black mist clinging to his body seemed to be draining his life. Despite the pain, he managed to keep his eyes open, which impressed her.

However, Claudia was not affected by his glare. She approached the boy and squatted down in front of him.

(What a rare sight. A slave contract that binds the target with magic and forces them to obey until death—there are still people who use such curses in this era.)

The magic of the slave contract imposes strong constraints. The boy must have made this contract with his master in exchange for something. But he violated the contract by running away and is now suffering the 'punishment.'

"That's not all. ... Did you try to forcibly tear the contract?"

"... Shut up..."

"Stupid. Doing that will only lead to your death and increase your suffering."

"Shut up, be quiet...!!"

Despite his beautiful face, he spoke so rudely. Claudia pouted but then noticed his movements.

"Are you still resisting and trying to tear the contract?"

"..."

The boy did not answer. But his silence was eloquent. Even without it, Claudia could clearly feel the magic within him raging.

"Doing that is futile. It will only cause you immense pain and suffering until the moment of your death. If you don't provoke them, the black snakes will remain calm."

"What's your point?"

The boy, glaring at Claudia, strained to speak in a hoarse voice.

"I don't intend to be a slave to such a person until the moment of my death. Even if I can only escape for a second, I don't care."

She could feel the strong force in his hand pressing his chest.

"I couldn't choose how to live. ... If I'm going to die anyway, I'll choose how to die."

"Hmm..."

Claudia clasped her hands behind her back and chuckled.

"You are still beautiful. But you are a little foolish."

"... What do you mean..."

Claudia smiled at the boy, who looked displeased, and then told him.

"Because, if you're going to die anyway—"

She chanted in her mind and gripped a short sword in her hand.

"—choose a way to live, not a way to end it."

"...!?"

And she plunged the sword into her own left chest.

"You...!!"

"..."

She lowered her eyes to confirm that the magical blade had reached her heart. Feeling the tip touch and the magic surge, she quickly pulled out the sword.

Red blood gushed out, and the boy winced reflexively. But this blood was not just blood.

"... The blood is glowing...?"

The blood, tinged with a golden light, stained the blade of the sword. Claudia grabbed the boy's chin, forcing him to look up. She looked down at the mist clinging to his neck and placed the tip of the sword on his left chest.

"I'll break the ugly chains. Just bear with it a little, and don't struggle even if you're scared."

The boy's eyes widened, and Claudia smiled in satisfaction. His eyes were still as captivating as obsidian. She opened her lips slightly, took a short breath, and chanted.

"Dispel"

"—!!"

One of their hearts thumped loudly. Claudia's sword pierced the boy's left chest. The curse-like magic surged, and the black mist darkened.

The magic of the slave contract was raging. The handle of the sword in her right hand felt as if it was melting and boiling.

"Oh, you're resisting."

The sensation was fresh and interesting, and Claudia chuckled.

"It won't work with my current body. I'll have to overwrite your slave contract."

"Overwrite...?"

The boy's face contorted in pain, but he never looked away from Claudia.

"Don't worry. I'll remove the collar soon."

"...!!"

As he was about to say something, a crack was heard.

A strong wind blew, making her dress flutter. Claudia, holding her milk tea-colored hair, gently opened her eyes after the wind stopped.

"... This is..."

The boy looked around in disbelief. The forest, now free of the black mist, was filled with a soft silence. He then looked down at his left chest, which was covered by his shirt.

There was no black snake, no wound from the sword. The short sword in Claudia's hand had melted and disappeared.

"Did you stop the punishment? Not only that, but even my slave contract...?"

In response, she yawned and answered.

"It's not removed. It's just been transferred."

"Transferred?"

"I changed the end of the chain attached to your soul from your previous master to me."

She patted her dress, but her small hands were not very effective. If the dirt was so noticeable, she should not have made her dress white. Claudia pouted but looked up at the boy.

"All I have to do now is cancel the contract. What's your name?"

"... I don't have one."

"Alright. I'll call you Noah for now."

Not delving deeply into the lack of a name, was that so strange? Noah, who was named, looked at Claudia with wary eyes.

"What are you? You're not just a child, are you?"

"Hmm... I can tell you, and I need to cancel the contract..."

The ground had been trembling softly all this time. Claudia cast a simple spell over Noah.

"Heal"

"!"

A ball of light appeared and circled around Noah.

"This should make you feel better. Now, carry me."

"Wait, hold on!"

Without giving him a choice, she reached out, and Noah reflexively held Claudia. The height difference was such that Claudia's forehead was around Noah's stomach. It was not enough to be carried, and she felt truly disappointed.

"You see, I'm very sleepy."

"... Huh?"

"Probably from overusing magic... my body can't take it... yawn."

After a big yawn, Claudia clung to Noah.

"Wait, are you going to sleep here?"

"Take me... to my... home... mumble..."

As she said that, she felt her consciousness fading.

She rested her head on Noah's shoulder and began to snore. No matter how much Noah shook her, she did not seem to wake up easily.

Holding the sleeping Claudia, Noah muttered in a bewildered voice.

"... I don't know where your home is..."

The story is also being serialized here.

The Villainess in the 7th Loop is Enjoying a Free and Easy Bride Life in the Former Enemy Country

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1784ga/